Hey, polevaulter, welcome to the forum! Sounds like you're off to a good start with having the book and doing some research and now asking questions. I don't have a lot to share on your questions as I don't know much about pond building, but I will offer one thought.

Typically, it's not a good idea to have a spring inside of your pond's borders. While the spring can readily help fill your pond up, in times of drought and lowered water table, that spring that giveth will become a siphon that taketh away. Just keep in mind that it is a two-way water feature. With that said, if you can build away from it and let it run over a man made creek or some such thing to route it to your pond from outside the pond's boundaries, you could have a wonderful source to keep your pond full.

Again, welcome to the forum and just hang on for more feedback.

Todd La Neve

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1.5 & .5 ac ponds - LMB, BG, RES, YP, GC, HSB